Tin cased miners gold scale, High in oval shape, brass beam, pans and chains. Exterior painted brown surface with wear but readable markings, and green interior color. Outside marked MINERS’ IMPROVED GOLD SCALE in gold letters across top front and in gold letters MANUFACTURED EXPRESSLY FOR CALIFORNIA across bottom front with a classic spread-wing gold American eagle in the center clutching an olive branch and three arrows in its talons and bearing a shield across its breast, 6.5in long, 3in wide and approximately 1in deep

These pocket scales date from the 1850s and perhaps into the 1860s and came in a variety of bright colors including light and dark green, royal blue, dark yellow, ocher brown, red, and maroon among others and in both oval and rectangular shapes in sizes from up to 7 1/4 in. long by up to 3 1/2 in. wide and 1 1/2 in. deep. Most were marked Miners’ Improved Gold Scale as the model shown here; little is known about the makers, although some are thought to be German; all have brass beams, pans and suspension chains although some have iron pointers as the scale shown here.